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Cathriona White's husband has accused Carrey of using his wealth and status to illegally procure prescription drugs for her

Actor Jim Carrey has denied allegations that he caused his ex-girlfriend Cathriona White's death by illegally supplying her with prescription drugs, saying it is a "heartless attempt" to defame him and "the woman I loved."

Actor Jim Carrey has been sued for allegedly causing his ex-girlfriend White's death by illegally supplying her with prescription drugs.

Cathriona White was found dead in her Los Angeles apartment in September 2015; suicide is suspected.

In an emotional statement, the actor said he would fight back. "What a terrible shame. It would be easy for me to get in a back room with this man's lawyer and make this go away, but there are some moments in life when you have to stand up and defend your honour against the evil in this world. I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved," Carrey said.

The lawsuit, filed by White's husband Mark Burton in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Carrey of using his celebrity status and wealth to procure the "highly addictive" prescription drugs Percocet, Ambien and Propranolol under the name of "Arthur King" and giving them to White despite knowing that she was "prone to depression" and "had previously attempted to take her own life".

The lawsuit also alleges that White was "engaged in a sexual relationship with Carrey" at the time of her death.

White, 30, an Irish-born makeup artiste and Carrey, 54, were rumoured to be in an on-and-off romance and had broken up the week before she died, website TMZ had reported at the time of her death.

In a statement following her death, Carrey had called his former girlfriend "my sweet Cathriona" and said she "was a truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil."

Burton, who is seeking a jury trial, also said Carrey had tried to "cover-up his complicity in her death" by saying White may have taken the drugs from him without his knowledge.

Carrey, star of slapstick comedies like Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Bruce Almighty, ended a five-year relationship with actress Jenny McCarthy in 2010. He was married twice previously. Both marriages ended in divorce.